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Trip from Bartow, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 22m

Distance

116 mi

187 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

34 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States

Bartow, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bartow, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on FL 60, Florida's Turnpike, Southeast Airoso Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.8 miles on FL 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.46 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

58 miles from Bartow, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
FL 60 60.8 mi 1h 17m
Florida's Turnpike 49.8 mi 53m
Southeast Airoso Boulevard 1.6 mi 2m
Main Street 1 mi 1m
Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Flamingo Drive 0.5 mi <1m
Southwest Bayshore Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Southwest Carter Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: FL 60 — 60.8 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bartow, FL and Port Saint Lucie, FL.

1

Start on Main Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Keep slight left at fork onto Flamingo Drive

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Flamingo Drive
3

Turn right onto FL 60

10 mi · 12 min · FL 60
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on FL 60

4.3 mi · 5 min · FL 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on FL 60

46 mi · 59 min · FL 60
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on this road

295 ft · 7 sec · this road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto Florida's Turnpike

50 mi · 53 min · Florida's Turnpike
10

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 142 Toward Port Saint Lucie
11

Continue on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard

483 ft · 15 sec · Southwest Bayshore Boulevard
12

Turn right onto FL 716

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto CR 615

1.6 mi · 2 min · Southeast Airoso Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
14

Turn left onto Southwest Carter Avenue

215 ft · 9 sec · Southwest Carter Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Southwest Carter Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Bartow, FL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 26 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58 miles or 1h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Saint Lucie, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bartow, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bartow, FL

This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Bartow, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on FL 60 for about 60.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

human settlement in Polk County, Florida, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Frostproof, FL

58 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Frostproof, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL

95.9 mi · 2h 3m

Pacing Suggestions

Lake Wales, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Okeechobee County, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58 miles from Bartow, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before FL 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Wales, Florida

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.6

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

Lake Wales Latte Lounge Coffee and Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.6

Lake Wales, Florida

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18632968827

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Bartow, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 66.3

Okeechobee, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Fort Drum Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

40392

0.8 mi from route

40391

1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.5 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.6 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.7 mi from route

Escape Room PSL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 116

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Hours: 4–10:30 pm

+17726266655

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 114.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | FL 60

Turn right onto FL 60

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
62.3 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
62.5 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami
6
113.6 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard

Turn right onto FL 716 / Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
114.4 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in | CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard

Turn left onto CR 615 / Southeast Airoso Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.46 one way

$36.93 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $20.09 $40.17
premium $4.72 $21.57 $43.14
diesel $5.61 $25.61 $51.22

Estimated Tolls: $3.49

Florida's Turnpike (49.8 mi) $3.49

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

34 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Florida Nexxus Park- Tesla Supercharger

Fort Pierce, FL

Tesla

40 DCFC

Town Center at St. Lucie West - Tesla Supercharger

Port St. Lucie, FL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce Service Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Port St. Lucie, FL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Dunkin' - Tesla Supercharger

Bartow, FL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fort Drum Service Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Okeechobee, FL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Fort Pierce, FL Rechargery @ Wawa - Selvitz Rd

Fort Pierce, FL

IONNA

10 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Fort Pierce, FL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Fort Pierce, FL

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 12 Tesla: 7 FPLEV: 4 eVgo Network: 3 EV Connect: 2 Electrify America: 2 Non-Networked: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 IONNA: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.8 0 $12.18 $5.57
Efficient EV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64
EV Truck/SUV 46.4 0 $16.24 $7.42

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bartow, FL

Morning in Bartow on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Port Saint Lucie, FL

Morning in Port Saint Lucie on Sunday

Local time

9:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 22m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

116 mi in 2h 22m, mostly highway — 60.8 mi of that is on FL 60.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.8 mi on FL 60.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on FL 60 and Florida's Turnpike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near FL 60.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 116 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (FL 60): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Bartow, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Florida's Turnpike South: Miami along the way.

Florida's Turnpike South: Miami

62.5 mi in | ~1h 20m

About the Cities

Starting in Bartow, FL

Full guide →

Bartow is a historic, Southern town in Polk County, Florida. As county seat, there is a large difference in the number of people in the town during the day and the number of people who reside in Bartow.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 116 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 60.8 miles on FL 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.49 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Port Saint Lucie, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (FL 60): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Port Saint Lucie, FL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Port Saint Lucie, FL to Bartow, FL

Plan the drive back the other way.

116 mi 2h 22m

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